Issue - meetings

The purpose of this report is to seek approval to proceed with the Council Homes Acquisition Programme (CHAP) for which a Greater London Authority (GLA) grant of up to £1.8m has been secured, including authority to complete the contracts for the acquisition of up to 15 properties by 31 March 2026 or thereafter, subject to the relevant agreements having been obtained.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)       To approve delivery of the Council’s Council Homes Acquisition Programme (CHAP) to acquire 15 homes for temporary accommodation.

(2)       To approve the total capital budget of £11,733,750 required to complete the acquisition and refurbishment of 15 properties.

(3)       To delegate authority to the Director, Property & Assets, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Property to complete the acquisition of purchases above £1m.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 15 September 2025

Councillor Benea (as Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Property) introduced a report from the Corporate Director Neighbourhoods & Regeneration seeking approval to proceed with the Council Homes Acquisition Programme (CHAP) for which a Greater London Authority (GLA) grant of up to £1.8m had been secured, including authority to complete the contracts for the acquisition of up to 15 properties by 31 March 2026 or thereafter, subject to the relevant agreements having been obtained.

In presenting the report, Cabinet was advised of the focus in seeking to take forward the next phase in the Council’s Council Homes Acquisition Programme with Brent, as part of the GLA’s Affordable Homes Programme, having secured £1.8m of grant funding to acquire up to 15 properties for use as good-quality temporary accommodation.  Although recognising the modest number this represented within the overall context of London’s housing crisis the importance of the transformational impact on those families able to benefit from the properties being acquired was also highlighted in terms of supporting their move from hotel and B&B accommodation into more stable and secure homes.

Whilst recognising the scale of homelessness in London and impact on Brent the opportunity was also taken to remind members of the ongoing approach being taken by the Council to confront the housing crisis guided through the Borough Plan pledge to deliver 5,000 genuinely affordable homes by 2028, including 1,700 directly delivered by the Council.  Alongside new-build schemes members were also reminded of the vital role and importance of acquisitions in delivering the safe and secure homes required whilst also reducing the cost pressures of relying on the private market and ensuring that vulnerable families could be supported with dignity and respect.

In welcoming and supporting the ongoing efforts being made to tackle homelessness and to keep investing in the homes so urgently need, members were also keen to commend the work undertaken with the GLA in order to secure the required uplift in the Council Homes Acquisitions Programme grant rate, which had enable the acquisition programme to proceed as a viable option recognising the impact this would have in supporting the provision of good quality temporary accommodation for families in need and in reducing associated cost pressures.  The opportunity was also taken to highlight the impact of the lobbying also being undertaken in support of the Renters Reform Bill as an additional measure in relation to addressing the housing crisis focussed on challenges within the private rented sector.

Recognising the positive nature of the measures outlined in seeking to utilise all forms of available funding Cabinet RESOLVED, having noted the information contained within the exempt appendix of the report:

(1)       To approve delivery of the Council’s Council Homes Acquisition Programme (CHAP) to acquire 15 homes for temporary accommodation.

(2)       To approve the total capital budget of £11,733,750 required to complete the acquisition and refurbishment of 15 properties.

(3)       To delegate authority to the Director, Property & Assets, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Property to complete the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13